The Sword of Orion

[2020BC (Bill Christie)]

Orion's Sword: Christmass night 2006.

This was a rough shoot. It took 5 hours to set up the gear and get it right. The secondary in the SN-8 has moved again, so I had to use the Orion 80ED instead. The counterweights slipped on their bar. MaxDSLR and the camera decided they didn't like each other, and Autoguiding wanted to observe the holiday, and so only worked on a part-time basis.

I've really got to get this gear into an observatory. I could only start shooting after Orion was an hour past the meridian (doh!).

Exposure: 16 x 3 mins ISO 1600 (10 darks)
Camera: Canon 350D unmod
Scope: Orion 80ED UHC-S filter (with crosshairs)
Mount: LXD-75 guided (a bit...)
Guidescope: LXD-75 SN-8

[dugnsuz (Doug)]

The last few post have all been the most wonderful "rough" shots that I wish I could come close to!!!
That is a fantastic image - thanks for sharing
Cheers
Doug

[Astroman (Andrew Wall)]

Yep fantasic roughs, how about showing the good stuff then...

[2020BC (Bill Christie)]

Thanks Doug,Andrew. I'm pleased with the result. I meant rough as in tough. The problems that went with this shot and the setup time were a right pain... Worked all night for just 48 mins of data. It would be so good to just roll the roof off an observatory, shoot for five hours on a good mount then click the OFF button, put the roof back on and go to bed. Come back the next night and start shooting again. One could easily double or triple the output of pics. Sigh...

[dugnsuz (Doug)]

Originally Posted by 2020BC

Thanks Doug,Andrew. I'm pleased with the result. I meant rough as in tough. The problems that went with this shot and the setup time were a right pain... Worked all night for just 48 mins of data. It would be so good to just roll the roof off an observatory, shoot for five hours on a good mount then click the OFF button, put the roof back on and go to bed. Come back the next night and start shooting again. One could easily double or triple the output of pics. Sigh...

Sorry Bill,
I've got to learn to read rather than scan posts!
But, that is still a beautiful image of M42 - excellent depth an texture to the nebulosity - gush,gush!!!!
Well done again
Doug

[Lester]

Very nice image Bill.

[RB (Andrew)]

I agree, very nice image Bill.
An observatory would be awesome indeed.

[2020BC (Bill Christie)]

The Baader UHC-S filter makes a huge difference to the color balance in the unmodified Canon 350D. Note how strong the reds are compared to a normal unmod shot. It has about 99% transmission in OIII/H-beta (blue) and in H-alpha (red). It slices through light pollution like it's just not there. The skyfog limit goes way up when you use this filter and the red signal of H-alpha is not buried in the light pollution from our street lamps. You get a much higher signal to noise ratio, especially in the red. I think it's a great piece of kit.

[leon]

That would have to be one of the best images iv'e seen for some time Bill,
Now if i could come anywhere close to that i would be very happy.

Great Shot

Cheers leon

[acropolite (Phil)]

Superb image Bill, lovely detail and colour.

[Ric]

Great image Bill, I think it turned out very nice indeed.

cheers

[spacezebra (Petra)]

Absolutely stunning image - what a pleasure to look at.

Cheers Petra

[matt]

That's going straight to the pool room!

[2020BC (Bill Christie)]

Originally Posted by matt

That's going straight to the pool room!

I love that movie! ("The Castle").

Thanks, everyone, for the encouragement. Cheers.

[sheeny (Al)]

That's an excellent image Bill!

Al.

[Gargoyle_Steve (Steve)]

Regardless of whether you call that a tough shot or a rough shot, it's a beauty none the less. As someone with zero astro-photography skills if I had to battle all night long against multiple problems, and still come up with a great image like that I'd be a very happy man indeed.

I'll be eagerly checking new/old posts for more of your great work.
Congrats!